The exhibition “Sarmatian Warriors” in Kaunas, organised in cooperation with the Lviv Historical Museum and the Adam Mickiewicz Institute, is open to the public at the Kaunas Vytautas the Great War Museum. Until 16 November 2024, visitors will have an opportunity to see a variety of exhibits from the period of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Another event accompanying the exhibition – a series of free film screenings – begins on 17 September.

“Sarmatian Warriors” exhibition about the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth

The exhibition “Sarmatian Warriors” opened on 29 May 2024 at the Kaunas Vytautas the Great War Museum. It consists of more than 200 original exhibits from the 16th and 17th centuries, made available by a total of 15 museums from Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania. The presented exhibits include portraits of prominent warriors and rulers from the period of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, various types of weapons and armour as well as artefacts to trace the relationship between eastern and western schools of martial art. In addition, visitors can read political literature dealing with themes of antemurale christianitatis, the bulwark of Christianity, i.e. the idea of the Republic as a defender of the European and Christian civilisation against attacks from Turks and Tatars.

The exhibition tells the tradition and history of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, that is, Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania joined by a union. It places special emphasis on solidarity and commonality, which have contributed to the development of both countries.

Numerous accompanying events were held as part of the exhibition: demonstrations of Sarmatian martial arts, a concert by the Kaunas Philharmonic String Quartet, educational programmes concerning the restoration of paintings and the methods applied by the army of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth as well as lectures by curators and guests from Poland and Ukraine. There are also plans to publish a catalogue with articles explaining the topics covered.

“Scarborn”, “The Deluge” and “Pan Tadeusz – The Last Foray in Lithuania” – open film screenings

Another event accompanying the exhibition are free film screenings that will take place on 17 September, 22 October and 19 November at the Romuva Cinema. Three Polish historical films will be presented to viewers in Kaunas: “Scarborn”, “The Deluge” and “Pan Tadeusz – The Last Foray in Lithuania”, with Lithuanian subtitles. Each of the screenings will be preceded by a lecture by Dr Anna Railienė-Mikonis, a film expert at the Institute for Literary, Culture and Translation Studies of the Vilnius University.

Detailed schedule of screenings at the Romuva Cinema (Kauno kino centras ROMUVA, Laisvės al. 54, LT-44246, Kaunas, Lithuania):

• 17 September 2024 “Scarborn” (directed by Paweł Maślona, 2023, 124 min.), 17:30
• 22 October 2024 “The Deluge” (directed by Jerzy Hoffmann, 1974/2014, 185 min.), 17:30
• 19 November 2024 “Pan Tadeusz – The Last Foray in Lithuania” (directed by Andrzej Wajda, 1999, 154 min.) 17:30.

You can watch a trailer of the film screenings here.

The screenings are organised by Kaunas Vytautas the Great War Museum, Kaunas Romuva Cinema and Adam Mickiewicz Institute. The Polish Institute in Vilnius is a partner of the event.

The Adam Mickiewicz Institute invites you to the exhibition, which remains open until 16 November 2024.

Exhibition organisers: Kaunas Vytautas the Great War Museum, Lviv Historical Museum

Main partner: Adam Mickiewicz Institute

Exhibition partners: Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Polish Institute in Vilnius, Lithuanian National Museum of Art, National Museum of Lithuania, Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore, Wroblewski Library of the Lithuanian Academy of Sciences, Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Lithuania, M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, Palace of the Grand Dukes of Lithuania – National Museum, Vilnius University Library, Church Heritage Museum in Vilnius, The Royal Armoury at the Royal Palace of Stockholm, Swedish Army Museum, The Polish Army Museum in Warsaw, Museum of King John III Palace at Wilanów, Biržai Region Museum, Kėdainiai Regional Museum, Rokiškis Regional Museum, Šiauliai “Aušros” Museum, Trakai History Museum, Samogitian Museum “Alka”, Historical Reconstruction Club “Messengers of the Middle Ages”, Kaunas cinema centre “Romuva”, Walker Art Gallery, Raudeliūnai Collection. 

Exhibition patron: Minister of National Defence, Laurynas Kasčiūnas 

The exhibition was co-funded by: Lithuanian Council for Culture 

Media partners: 15min portal, Lietuvos nacionalinis radijas ir televizija 

Curators of the exhibition: Vidmantas Airini, Arvydas Pociūnas, Kristina Petrauskė 

Curators of the film screenings: Tytus Ciski, Elżbieta Chrzanowska (Adam Mickiewicz Institute)